Ag Secretary Rollins to Gavin Newsom: No farmland reparations

USDA chief says the farmland redistribution plan drafted by Newsom's task force violates the U.S. Constitution.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. Photo: Brooke Rollins | Facebook

Brooke Rollins, President Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has issued a warning to California Governor Gavin Newsom over his administration’s drafted proposal to redistribute farmland along “equity” lines.

“The United States Department of Agriculture writes to express substantial constitutional concerns regarding the state of California’s proposed redistribution of agricultural land based on race, ethnicity, and national origin,” Rollins wrote.

UNWON covered the proposal in October. If implemented, this plan could allow California officials to acquire and hold prime farmland in state ownership and redistribute it using race-based or identity-based criteria.

Newsom’s task force pushing “unconstitutional” discrimination and land taking, says USDA chief

The California Agricultural Land Equity Task Force was formed at Newsom’s behest and charged with proposing ways to “equitably” expand land access for minority and historically excluded farmers.

The group’s draft plan, released this summer, lists reparations-style recommendations for addressing “inequities in resource distribution,” restoring “stolen wealth” to preferred groups.

Rollins says the plan is discriminatory.

“The right to own private property and our nation's agricultural heritage are an inseparable cornerstone of the American dream and ingrained in the very fabric of our nation,” she writes. “The pursuit of a noble lifestyle in agriculture should transcend the pernicious identity-based politics that only serves to drive division.”

She states the plan would violate both the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause and 5th Amendment Takings Clause of the U.S. Constitution, as well as Proposition 209 of the California Constitution, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race and other characteristics.

“For these reasons, and because the Report endorses plainly racially discriminatory policies, the Department demands California abandon any effort to implement the actions recommended in the Report,” Rollins writes. “If California persists, expect immediate legal action to protect American citizens from California's unlawful actions.”

Draft plan calls for state acquisition of farmland

The task force calls for state acquisition of farmland and redistribution to “priority producers or land stewards,” a category defined as socially disadvantaged or historically excluded farmers.

“In order to protect California’s Prime Farmland and Farmland of Statewide Importance, the Legislature should move to safeguard them in the public domain,” the report stated, citing data that showed 82% of California ag land is owned by white farmers and ranchers.

Task force members and racial justice groups argue the recommendations are designed to address historic barriers to land access.

Newsom’s task force spent two years developing these recommendations. By the end of 2025, the group is set to bring their final recommendations to the governor and state legislature.